How to Decorate Niches

Someday I will get my stuff together on this social media stuff. In the meantime, I hope you can bear with my extended absences. Earlier this week I was in High Point for our semi annual market event. I will do a post on what I saw there soon. Today, I’m going to write about niches. You know, these builder imposed “architectural details” that everyone struggles to decorate. I had a reader send in a pic of her challenge recently. The irony in her timing was uncanny. I faced a situation very similar to hers when I moved into my new home. I am not a fan of these decorating challenges, so it will come as no surprise how I choose to solve this dilemma.

Here is my reader’s before:

The arch adds insult to the injury. It doesn’t look bad, it just adds to the challenge. Like my own fireplace, the mantle could use a bit of a face lift too. Here is my solution:

I suggest adding a wood surround to the fireplace and then lean a fabulous piece of art on it. Just cover the whole thing up. The arch demands that whatever you put it in, should also follow the lines of the semi circle leaving you with either arch options or something round. Pretty challenging to say the least.

Here’s what I did with mine. The out-of-scale before:

And now:

I was able to have my contractor add a few layers of stone above the mantle, so I could hang my art. The intent of my niche was to house a TV. This was just way too high for comfortable viewing and that was not how we were going to use the space. We also inherited an uninspired bookcase in this room. Here is what it looked like before: How do you like the former faux paint job?

And now:

Big improvement, yes?

By the way, did you notice my color palette? Well, that teal turquoise peacock blue was every freaking where at market. Totally ticked me off. After going in several showrooms on day one, my friend turned to me and said, “It’s going to be a long day isn’t it?” as I was sputtering expletives. We all know the answer to that don’t we?

Anyway, back to the story. What if you don’t want to cover up the niche? Here is an option. I found a really pretty Suzanne Kasler sunburst mirror that has a great shape for the niche. Here is what that would look like:

I like that too. I like options.